Grandparents' Day is Sunday, September 7th. It's a nationally recognized holiday celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day as a time "to honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children's children, and to help children become aware of strength, information, and guidance older people can offer." President Jimmy Carter signed the official proclamation for the holiday on August 3, 1978.
Grandparents' Day is a great opportunity to help your kids learn more about your family's stories and history by spending some time with a grandparent.
Plan now to invite a grandma or grandpa (or both!) to lunch, make a date to call them via phone, or connect with them over Skype or email to give them the opportunity to share their memories about the family - from childhood to grandparenthood.
Then create a list of questions with your kids that you can ask to not only learn more about the individual, but also your family!
Here are a few questions to get you started:
Grandparents' Day is a great opportunity to help your kids learn more about your family's stories and history by spending some time with a grandparent.
Plan now to invite a grandma or grandpa (or both!) to lunch, make a date to call them via phone, or connect with them over Skype or email to give them the opportunity to share their memories about the family - from childhood to grandparenthood.
Then create a list of questions with your kids that you can ask to not only learn more about the individual, but also your family!
Here are a few questions to get you started:
- What was your favorite toy/game growing up?
- How much did a candy bar/stick of gum cost when you were my age?
- Do you remember … (where you were when the first man landed on the moon, when President Reagan was shot, etc.). Ask several of these questions with different dates and events. This will help you craft a family history that intersects with significant historical events.
- Tell me about your first job, your wedding day, your first house.
- What was it like to be the mom/dad of my mom/dad (kids always like to hear what you were like as a child directly from your parents)!
After you've spent some time listening, now it's time to compile your family stories! Depending on how you spent time with your grandparent(s), there are many options available.
- Create a video to post on YouTube and share with relatives.
- Design a story book with different family "tales."
- Make a family timeline with pictures and words.
Have fun with learning about and preserving your family memories and celebrating your grandparents!
** We know that some families may no longer have grandparents living or may live too far away to make this a good option. Your kids can still benefit from the wisdom of older generations! Contact a local nursing home and ask the activities director if there are residents that you and your kids can visit on Grandparents' Day. You can still ask the same questions. Even though the answers won't be specific to your own family, you will still learn a lot from someone else's grandparent!
** We know that some families may no longer have grandparents living or may live too far away to make this a good option. Your kids can still benefit from the wisdom of older generations! Contact a local nursing home and ask the activities director if there are residents that you and your kids can visit on Grandparents' Day. You can still ask the same questions. Even though the answers won't be specific to your own family, you will still learn a lot from someone else's grandparent!
